FLYING FOX.

Flying fox (Pe'a in Samoan) represents guardianship, family connection & environmental stewardship all key principles of my design practice.

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As a busy mum of four I have been gradually building flying fox clothing with an emphasis on a slow, thoughtful approach creating innovative design using local production & sustainable practices.

I was lucky to grow up around extremely resourceful women, mum and grandma and learn first hand from such gifted mentors. Their frugal, simple & resourceful mindset has rubbed off on me, instilling a desire to create for others applying these values to my current practice.

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My grandma was an extremely hardworking woman, post-war. She lived a simple, frugal life – making most things including aprons out of old sugar sacks. 
 
Raising a big family of 5 in Wellington, my mum followed in grandma’s resourceful footsteps and would make most of our clothes even raincoats. 
 
Initially pursuing a career in Information Technology back in the 1980s, travelling and living in England for two years. Returning to NZ in the late 80’s to raise a family, I was lucky to be a stay at home mum and would make our children’s clothes along with my own.

Living in Melbourne in the early 2000s I started to retrain in the clothing trade at a TAFE college. After relocating back to Auckland, I decided to continue studying at AUT and graduated with a Bachelor in Art & Design - Fashion 2009, specialising in menswear.